on the Late Master Ifit Carver, Robert Philip Taitano
FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (Saturday, November 5, 2022- Hagatña, Guam) Today, our island has lost a strong and steady advocate of CHamoru culture, creativity, and resilience. Our hearts are heavy upon learning that Master Ifit Carver, and member of Guam’s Greatest Generation, Robert Philip Taitano of the village of Yigo, has passed away at the age of eighty-four.
Master Robert Philip Taitano was a carpenter by trade, and a largely self-taught woodcarver, that began as a hobby in the 80’s, and then flourished into a business upon a growing demand for his exquisite wood pieces. For the last four decades, we were blessed with his artistry, and have admired and sought after the many carefully crafted and intricate wood pieces made by his steady hand. Each hardwood piece that he carved into life, whether it be a wooden table, a chongka board, cabinet, a Latte Stone plaque mounted by an ayuyu, or kamyo siya in the shape of the Haggan Bedi, materialized the beauty and uniqueness of our CHamoru culture and resilience and inspired a sense of pride.
For years, Taitano was commissioned to carve wooden nameplates for senators of the Guam Legislature, the speaker’s and judges’ gavels, a podium for former Guam Governor Edward Baza Calvo, and has made gift pieces for dignitaries at the request of Guam’s Delegates to the US Congress. Among his most exceptional wooden pieces were thirteen high-backed ifit chairs used to seat President Clinton and other dignitaries during an historic visit to Guam in 1998. The chairs are now housed in a museum in Hawai’i. Master Taitano also carved the Presidential Seal as a gift for the Commander-in-Chief.
On 29 April 2011, Robert Philip Taitano, was formally recognized in a ceremony as Master Folk Artist by the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency. Master Taitano’s artistry and craft will live on through the steady hands of three of his sons, and others who have had the honor to have apprenticed under him, be inspired by his work.
On behalf of the 36th Guam Legislature, and the people of Guam, we send our deepest sympathies and prayers for peace and comfort to his wife Antonia Santos Taitano, his children Cindy and Tommy Hoover, Joseph Taitano and June Delgado, Bill Taitano, Mark and Lupita Taitano, Rodney Taitano, David Santos and Darlene Cruz, Johnny Taitano, Margaret Taitano and William Smith, Robert Jr. and Tanya Taitano, Jennifer, and Martin Torres, his 37 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.